I'm a
swimmer

Discover the opportunities available to swimmers in the USA! With swimming scholarships, you get support for both university studies and swimming.

SWIMMING

SWIMMING

Keystone Sports consists of eight leading university sports placement agencies dedicated to helping international students secure sports scholarships in the US and Canada. Are you a swimmer dreaming of studying in the US on a swimming scholarship? Keystone Sports specialises in helping swimmers like you become successful student-athletes in America! 

Application

Fill the form and get a free evaluation of your chances by our experts

Signing

Contract with Keystone Sports and university action plan

Preparation

Test prep and grade evaluation, university admission profile, choosing school and division

Plannning

Visa, travel arrangements, and assistance with the application process

Support

On going college support/assistence

If you want to learn more about the different steps, from the free assessment to enrolled student-athlete, click on the button and discover the full process.

Swimming scholarships:

Combine College Swimming and Studies in the USA

With swimming scholarships in the USA, you get the perfect blend of swimming and university studies!  

College swimming is an excellent route for international swimmers to refine their skills while earning a recognised degree. College sports and sports scholarships in the US provide an unbeatable opportunity for international students: a combination of higher education and sport. 

Swimming is one of the most demanding sports for progressing to a professional level. Through college swimming and swimming scholarships in the USA for international students, you get the necessary tools and support to enhance your skills in America! 

Average scholarship
24.401
Dollars secured in scholarships
796.000.000
Full rides
1.605

Top 5 of our swimmers studying in the USA:

Rafael Miroslaw

Indiana University

Julia Mrozinski

University of Tennessee 

Nicolas Garcia

Virginia Tech

Marta Beesmans

University of Houston

Stella Warborn

St Thomas University, Florida

Top 5 of our swimmers studying in the US:

Rafael Miroslaw

Indiana University

Emil Hassling

Louisiana State University

Luis Dominguez

Virginia Tech

Ines Sancho

Northwestern University

Emma Sundstrand

University of Miami

What is College Swimming?

With college swimming, you will compete representing your university while pursuing your academic degree. You’ll be part of the university’s swim team, train at the outstanding campus facilities, and compete against other schools. Alongside the support provided by university swimming scholarships, college swimming also gives you access to a team of professionals coaches, trainers, psychologists, and tutors, who will assist you during your career. 

As a college swimmer, you participate in special swimming competitions for NCAA students. Like “regular” swimming competitions, these are school tournaments and swimming events categorised based on the different swimming styles (breaststroke, backstroke, butterfly, freestyle, and medley). 

This blend of sport and academics is a unique aspect of the US university system, offering a special opportunity for swimmers to pursue both athletic and educational goals – with the possibility of receiving financial support to help cover the costs! 

What Does a Swimming Scholarship Cover?

A swimming scholarship is a financial grant designed to help university swimmers cover some or all of the costs associated with attending university. These costs include tuition, accommodation, meals, and other academic fees.   

Receiving a swimming scholarship can significantly reduce your financial burden, allowing you to focus on your studies and sport. Swimming scholarships do not only cover academic expenses, but also costs related to your sport, such as equipment and traveling.   

Women's Swimming Scholarships

Women’s swimming is one of the most popular university sports in the U.S., with over 600 college swimming programmes across the NCAA and more than 150 in the NAIA. Women’s swimming scholarships offer international athletes the chance to combine a top-tier education with daily training to improve their skills and compete at a national level.

In the NCAA, scholarship offerings vary by division. Division I college swimming programmes can offer up to 14 scholarships, while Division II programmes can provide up to 8.1 scholarships for women’s teams. The NAIA, with its different regulations, allows for up to 8 scholarships per team. These figures represent the maximum number of fully funded swimming scholarships. Coaches often allocate partial scholarships to support a larger number of swimmers on the team.  

Men’s Swimming Scholarships

There are more than 500 men’s college swimming programmes in the NCAA and over 100 in the NAIA. While both the NCAA and NAIA govern collegiate sports, they operate as separate associations with distinct rules and regulations.  

In the NCAA, Division I swimming programmes can provide up to 9.9 scholarships, while Division II programs are capped at 8.1 scholarships for men’s teams. The NAIA allows for up to 8 scholarships per team. While these numbers represent the maximum number of full scholarships, coaches often divide them into partial scholarships to extend financial support to more swimmers.  

5 Pro Swimmers that are Former University Athletes

Swimming is one of the most challenging sports to progress to a professional level. Thanks to universities offering swimming scholarships and on-campus facilities, you’ll have the ideal conditions to develop as a swimmer.

Here are some of the most renowned swimmers with impressive achievements at the highest level who were once student-athletes:

Katie Ledecky

Stanford University

Michael Phelps

University of Michigan

Ryan Lochte

University of Florida

Missy Franklin

University of California, Berkeley

Kelsi Worrell

University of Louisville

University swimming offers opportunities for athletes of all levels. With the various divisions and a wide range of swimming programmes available in America, you have the flexibility to choose the path that aligns with your goals. Whether you’re interested in continuing to swim alongside your university studies or taking the next step towards a professional career, university swimming provides a strong foundation.

A Day in the Life of a Student on a Swimming Scholarship

College swimming season typically runs from late September or early October to March. During season you will travel to other cities or states to compet. Your professors will help you adjust assignments and exams accordingly.  

6:00 AM  

Start the day with a practice session designed to fit all team members’ schedules.   

9:00 AM 

After practice, it’s time for school just like any other university student. Attend lectures, complete assignments, and study for exams. Balancing academics and athletics is a key strength of student-athletes! Between classes get lunch at the university dining hall with your friends.

3:00 PM 

In the afternoon, you may have another training or workout session with your team.  

6:00 PM   

Evenings are typically for dinner with teammates, followed by study time to catch up on coursework. Relax with some light activities before bed to recharge for the next day. 

Nuria
Gallego Murcia

Petter
Kolaas

Jan
Delkeskamp

Mari
Alvsaker

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS AT LITTLE ROCK

International Business

ST AMBROSE UNIVERSITY

History & Political Science

QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE

Finance & Accounting

KEISER UNIVERSITY

Business Administration

I could not have afforded to study in the US without sport scholarships. I was able to live my dream thanks to it.

.

 

The best thing of a student-athlete life is being able to live out your athletic dream while getting a head start on your academics.

I made it! Thanks to the scholarship I had the opportunity to study in the US! can be difficult sometimes, but it’s the best experince you can do!

 

Being a student-athlete in the US was for me the best four years of my life, and I hope way more athletes will consider the stats. Tri it and be open minded!

 

 

I'm a
college coach

Find out more about Keystone Sports and our student athlete recruiting service that allows young athletes to combine education with sports.

COACH

COACH

FAQ: About College Swimming and Swimming Scholarships in the USA

Yes, you can get a scholarship for swimming. Many colleges and universities offer athletic scholarships to talented swimmers, which can help cover the cost of attendance (COA), such as tuition, room, board, and other expenses.

Swimming scholarships are offered by a wide range of colleges and universities across the U.S. This includes schools in NCAA Divisions I-III and the NAIA.

Some university swimmers receive full scholarships (often called full rides), while others are awarded partial scholarships. The number of full rides available differs by division and institution. For instance, NCAA Division I programmes may provide up to 9.9 scholarships for men’s university swimming and 14 scholarships for women’s university swimming. These figures represent full scholarships; however, scholarships are frequently divided among several student-athletes.

Getting a swimming scholarship for university in America can be competitive, but remember that college swimming has various divisions, levels, and programs, with a perfect match for every swimmer! As a swimmer dreaming of earning a scholarship, you need to demonstrate a high level of performance in the pool, maintain a strong academic record, and be proactive and engaged in the recruiting process. Keep in mind that coaches are not only looking for athletes with a strong swimming profile but also consider potential, personal character, and how well the athlete will fit into the swim team.

Are you ready to compete, study, and experience the famous American college life? As a college student-athlete, you will swim daily and become a part of a college swimming team with the same passion as you: swimming. Being awarded college swimming scholarships and becoming a student athlete is an incredible experience – as a swimmer, student, and human being. 

Fill out Keystone Sports’ free application form to start your college swimming adventure. 

Ready to Become a student-athlete?

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Curious about university sports, studying in the USA and what it’s like being a student-athlete? Learn more in the articles below: